Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-02-24


flee, had seen much of each other oi
the society Of Openstonc. The younger
had kept under roof and close TO hi.
books; the elder at his work. or gliding
about in perpetual quiet, and both de.
Ginning all social overturcs, until they
had become woll ignored by the
starchcd and ribboncd huttcrcrs Of the
town. The gay moths, however. that
glanced about and displayed thelI
wings in the social illuminations ol
Openstone were not over-many. for
tho mass OF Openstune folk. like the
denizcns of most thriving Western
towns, were digging industriously after
q certain unholy root, that saint and
sinner, be il recorded with n blush,
quite equally in these modern DAYS,
seem to feel gnawing need of. Yet
doubtless more than one strange and
instructive history was in progress in
Openslono under its ordinary and un-
alluring surface, as, indeed, there Is
wherever the many-colored bubble of
life is blown.
On the next evening but one John
Earring, feeling the hand OF the hot
August day laid heavily upon him.
went to wax when the sun was set
ting, and found that his feet went very
willingly toward the old attorneys
house. Often during that day the
form of Maun had come softly into his
fancy, giving his thoughts n pleasant
taste, and now he went forward with
kind Of yearning to see her coinc to-
ward him. The beauty of her move
ment had got for itself within him n
half unconscious thirst which. with
him, as the poise of dainty head, the
turn of a cheek or chin, the music of
voice, tie lift Of fathomlcss eyes had
singly CHARMED many n single sense
before, and had at last taken the whole
heart in the net of love.
That John Earing should come TO
love-whcther healthfully or not de-
pending, Of course. upon the WORTH
ness of the one beloved-this girl. or
indeed almost any decent wcman,
young or old. II brought into sympa-
thetic contact with him, seems proba-
bic, judging by human experience For
II Is q fact-and often as sorry as death
that 1t is not given man TO STAY the
sproutings OF the seeds of love when
the dew falls and the sunshine comes,
nor TO prevent its eager tendrils fl, m
Unfolding oft unworthy and unhappy
things. But Maun Woodman was a
beauteous object: lissome, sensuous.
airy. lndian-looted and innocent.
What fault were there in loving her?
None, perhaps, save this, that whatever
worship was springing up in John Earl
ing for this girl was rather of her body
than her soul At iifst he was not
even conscious of this. and only dlmly
at the last, so fully fed was his beauty
loving eye with the oolors and the.
curves that made her.
When he came TO the lawyers that
evening, she was lying in a hammock
under some trees that shaded n lawn
at the northern end of the house. Her
eyes were closed and the flexible arm
was stretched out under her check
and curved over her head with her
fingers tapping upon her hair to n
droning tune she was humming. She
did not at first perceive him, but ut
the sound of his foot upon the gravclcd
path, she sprang up and came TO meet
him with certain bounding. eager
movement that gave John Earling
sweep of feeling. But she stopped
when she had come nearly TO him and
drew the back Of her hand across her
brow in hesitating way, as she looked
up at him and murmured a salutaiiOn;
then she came forward again. some
thing like n soft quick wind, and
caught him by the hand and held il as
they went up TO the porch.
John Earling felt an impulse fash
across him to fling her hand from him,
her action seemed so unmaidenly, but
she seemed so eager and glad and in
nocent, and the clasp of her hand felt
so sweet, he could cot until they came
TO be seated. Then they fell 30 talking
OF something touching their relative
isolation, and the young man let fall
something covering the fact Of his
knowing little entertainment beyond
copying briefs and unraye.ing prob
lemns in law books, with an occasional
peep into pleasanter volumes, when she
said, with a deprecating shrug: "How
do you endure It? can't understand,
know. for dislike books so. ut least !
hard ones.
John Earring looked at her curiously; !
then he said: II suppose that Il is a |
natural enough feeling. since there are |
many unpleasant books. Still, for my
OWN part, 1 can not remember when | !
was not eager for any thing in type, al
most regardless Of itscharacter, guess, |
and that isn't best, | suppose"
She met his look little blankly. and |
made that movement across her fore
head with the back of her hand which
seemed to be habit with her.
Papa says ! like wild books. too |
much. l am afraid that I'm great |
Trial TO him in that way and she gave 1
4 shrug and q low bubbling laugh as |
She looked at the young man with her
husky, dropping eyes. Then. with a
sort Of flash: Il like music. thoagh. / !
never could speak only through my
ingcr& But almost better than that /
ike riding. White Tom is slow and
anne thought | wish father would let
ne have a wilder horse. Sometimes |
eel like riding ono that could flyn'
She gave a low laugh again, and sway
ne sidewise on her willowy waist she
aid: Look letwcen the trees there.
'ou can see the prairie twenty miles
lwaY. / can't tel you how quickly /
would like sometimes 10 ride 10 that (
'Oint. expect so fast that the horse
would drop dead when he crossed II"
She looked tho incarnation Of the
wish for an instant, like some eager,
'cautiiul animal. and John Earling
Watched her with smiling amazement
q his eyes. She bit her lip aud col
red. for he said nothing.
1T is ono Of my many follies; the
most foolish, guess; this craziness,
ather calls it, for riding" ID
Oh, a good many are fond Of II,
ut few so passionate with it-I think.
on must have Inherited It, at any (
ate. il is evidently not artificial" he +
aid, with a smile. +
She looked at him an instant, rs If
OF wholly comprebending. Yes"
ie said, " II seems TO me 1 can r. (,